Philip Dimitrov, former prime minister of the first democratically elected government, former leader of the Union of Democratic Forces, former ambassador to the US, and a former member of the board of directors of the Democracy Foundation, speaks to VELINA NACHEVA about bilateral relations between the US and Bulgaria, the KGB and the "democracy affair."





Do you think if Brigo Asparuhov was appointed an advisor to the Prime Minister that this would have influenced Bulgaria's image?



Yes. It would have been a bad signal that the Prime Ministers had mixed up the times and values.



Do you think that the recent "democracy affair" has been advanced as a pre-election technique or is it a scandal in its own right?



Yes. It is clear that there was no stealing. On the other hand you can accept money from a friend, not from enemies.



What will the ordinary citizen gain from Bulgaria's NATO membership?



Security and reliability for the country. Reliability can be measured by prosperity.



Gains will be reciprocal for NATO countries so the question refers to the NATO member states as well? What will they gain from having Bulgaria as a member and ally?



Security is a matter of mutual guarantees and co-operation. That is what Bulgaria can offer.



Do you have any feedback on the visit of Bulgaria's delegation to the US and the celebration of the100th anniversary of bilateral relations?

As a former minister and an ambassador in the US how do you evaluate the historical bilateral relations?



It is always good to mark such an anniversary. What is more important is that today the US-Bulgaria relations are the best they have ever been because they are based on common values and share vision about the future.



Recently there has been a discussion in the media about the changed role of the United Nations in influencing people's beliefs, the necessity of changes in the work style of the United Nations, and eventually some structural changes as well. What is your opinion on this?



This issue has been under discussion for a long time, but there are few opportunities for change because the United Nations is committed to the status quo established immediately after the end of World War II. It would be very helpful to keep in mind these restrictions and limitations and not expect that the United Nations can solve all the problems and nor blame it for not being able to make some decisions.



Do you think that the Iraqi issue, especially the events of post war Iraq, are the basis of this strong wish for a change or there is something more to it? Where did this initiative come from according to you?



I have already said that the topic has been discussed for quite a while since 1997 or 1998 and maybe this was the time of most intensive discussions.



How do you evaluate Bulgarian diplomacy in the Iraqi issue?



I evaluate it positively.



The team at the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry is now facing big responsibilities like the EU and NATO accessions, do you think that it is well balanced? Do you feel that there is a lack of synchronicity between the President, parliament and the executive power?



We a have a brilliant ambassador to the United States and this helps.



Can you give an evaluation of the National Movement Simeon II (leader, leadership, image and perspectives)?



No I can't.



Do you think that the replacement of the former Foreign Minister of Bulgaria and present leader of the Union of Democratic Forces Nadezda Mihailova with the president Petar Stoianov could be a good move? What are your personal plans for consolidation and strengthening of the Union of Democratic Forces?



I consider myself to be assisting in this process. When one is not chasing one's own targets this is easier.



Do you have a forecast for the outcome of the municipal elections on November 26?



I never comment on future results before elections.



What are your views on US military bases in the country?



This is very sensible and useful. The most prosperous European countries have had American bases.



Is the American nation aware that little Bulgaria has fought shoulder to shoulder with the American army in Iraq?



The people there are aware of the fact that Bulgaria supported the coalition United States-Great Britain and that it sent military units to the Polish zone in Iraq.



Has the ghost of the State Security disappeared from people's life?



No, it has not. Because of the unskilled opening of the records many doubts remain. And besides the KGB exists. Recently I have read that one third of Putin's ministers are KGB. This is dangerous for Bulgaria as well.



Philip Dimitrov graduated law from the St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia in 1977 and for three years worked as an attorney at law. He joined the democratic movement in Bulgaria from the beginning and in 1990 was elected vice-president of the Union of Democratic Forces, responsible for foreign relations. In December 1990 he was elected leader of the Union of Democratic Forces and remained in this post until the end of 1994.

After the free elections of October 1991, Dimitrov became prime minister of the Republic of Bulgaria, thus being the first democratically elected prime minister of Bulgaria after the end of communism. During his term in office his government started an ambitious set of democratic political and economic reforms. Under his administration, observance of human rights became an irrevocable legal and ethical norm, eliminating previous ethnic tensions and abuses. Foreign policy focused on reintegration into Europe. Bulgaria was the first country to recognise Macedonia unconditionally as a sovereign state. The communist backlash led to the fall of Dimitrov's government, but the Union of Democratic Forces maintained its line and eventually won the elections in 1997 and accelerated the reform process in Bulgaria.

Dimitrov was a member of parliament between 1991 and 1997 and was vice chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee European Union-Bulgaria between 1995 and 1997. In April 1997 he was appointed ambassador of Bulgaria at the United Nations by the new Union of Democratic Forces Government. Dimitrov became the ambassador of Bulgaria to the United States in August of 1998, and in 1999 he was granted the Truman-Regan Foundation Freedom Award for his contribution to overcoming communism.